Gold medal for Brett food company

Oakpark Foods, owned by the Callan-based Brett Group, won a gold medal at the annual own label food and drink awards last week in London.

Oakpark Foods, owned by the Callan-based Brett Group, won a gold medal at the annual own label food and drink awards last week in London.

The value-added pork and bacon processor, which is based in Cahir, won the top award in the chilled bacon category for its dry cure rashers, which are sold by Lidl. It beat entries from all major UK retailers.

Over 750 own label products were entered in the competition, which is organised by The Grocer magazine. Oakpark rashers was the only Irish-manufactured product to receive a gold medal. All products were subject to 16 weeks of consumer research and finalists were assessed by a judging panel of food scientists, chefs and food journalists.

Speaking in London after receiving the award, Oakpark managing director Jimmy Brett said this major international honour was testament to the innovativeness and professionalism of the company’s 50 staff and their dedication to the highest standards of excellence.

“It will be of huge benefit to our export drive into Britain, where Oakpark has already established itself as a key supplier to Lidl stores,” he said.

Oakpark Foods is an integral part of the family-run Brett Group, which was established in 1940. With facilities in Callan and Windgap and in Ardfinnan in Tipperary, the agribusiness and food company is involved in supplying seed grain and agronomy services to tillage farmers as well as grain purchase and manufacture and supply of animal feed to dairy, beef and pig farms, including its own pig units.

This integrated production system ensures unique control over the Oakpark pork and bacon product range from farm to fork.

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